Here to take part in the first edition of Make In Odisha conclave, Jaitley was invited by Patnaik to Naveen Niwas. While both were seen sharing jokes when sitting adjacently during the conference, Jaitley and Patnaik continued their camaraderie when seated together in Patnaik’s vehicle on their way to Naveen Niwas.

After having lunch together the busy duo continued with their scheduled trips in the city and later after keeping up with all appointments of his visit, Jaitley left in the evening hours of Thursday.

In fact, even during his ‘Make in Odisha’ conclave address, Jaitely had applauded Patnaik’s efforts of development in Odisha. He had said that Odisha is the model state in the country for the way it has transformed in last two decades. Poverty rate in the state has also come down in last two decades. He said, in a short time, it has transformed itself into an ambitious manufacturing and power generating hub. While the national GDP growth rate is 7.2 percent, the GDP growth in Odisha has been 2 per cent higher with 9.2 percent, the finance minister said.

Expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Patnaik for backing the demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST), he assured of complete support of the BJP government for its Make in Odisha campaign as well as the plans under ‘Vision-2025’ He said the political stability in the state has helped towards rapid economic and social growth and ultimately leading to lowered rate of poverty.

Ironically, while Amit Shah had criticised BJD government last week during Maha Samavesh visit and BJP minister Dharmendra Pradhan has been accusing BJD government of false support to demonetisation after Patnaik writing letters to the PM to ease the transformation in rural and tribal areas, the Finance minister has showered praises and appreciated Odisha backing the note ban move.